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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

BENJAMIN F. SLOAN, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES w. BRADLEY, on SAME PLACE.

TRVICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,395, dated July 18, 1882,

Application filed December 31, 1881. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. SLOAN, of Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Tricycle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The objectof my invention is to provide a new and improved tricycle which can be propelled easily, and the speed of which can be varied conveniently, as the circumstances may requlre. I

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of .reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is alongitudinal elevation of my improved tricycle. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional elevation through the middle part of the wheel.

The driving-wheel A is loosely mounted on theaxle or shaft B, which is journaled in the fork O, swiveled to the curved reach D, formed of two spreading-bars, D, bent angularly at their lower ends and united by a platform, 0, for carrying a seat, (3 The lower or rear ends of the reach-bars D rest on an axle, E, journaled in the rear wheels, E, which axle is fastened rigidly 'to the ends of these reach-bars. To protect the person orpersons oecupyin g the seat G from themud or sand thrown up by the wheel A, the bars D D are united by a covering,D ofmetal, leather, &c. The springseat F rests on the upper part of the reach D and is fastened thereon in the ordinary manner. A treadle-bar, G, is loosely mounted on each end of the shaft B, and at one end carries an adjustable revolving foot-rest, F, and has a quadrant or segmental part, F attached to its other end, the arm G connecting the outer end of this quadrant with the middle of the treadle-bar. A rod, H, is hooked on the quadrant F which rod passes through a guideloop, H, on the curved reach D, to the seat 0 and is provided with a handle'loop, H A rod, I, is hooked into that end of the treadlebar G opposite the one to which the foot-rest F is fastened, is guided by an arm, 0, of the fork (Land is, provided with ahandle-loop, I, at its upper end, this rod I being of such length that it can be grasped easily by the person occu pyin g the seat F. A ratchet-wheel, J, which is made integral with a pinion, K, is rigidly mounted on the shaft B, between the treadlebar G and the right-hand shank of the fork 0.

'One or more spring-pawls, L, pivoted to the 5 5 arm G, rest on the periphery of the ratchetwheel J. 7

Between the hub Q of the wheel A and the right-hand shank of the fork G a disk or wheel,

M, or a suitable arm is rigidly mounted on the shaft B, and to this disk or arm one or more pawls, N, are pivoted, which rest on a ratchetwheel, 0, made integral with a cog-wheel, P, attached to the hub Q of the driving-wheel A,

the combined ratchet and cog wheel 0 P be- 6 under side, so as to fit closely and be adapted to slide on the upper edge of the arm S. On this shaft R are mounted a cog-wheel, T, adapted to engage with the pinion K on the shaft B, and a pinion, T, adapted to engage with the cog-wheel P, attached to the hub Q of the wheel A. The lever S is pivoted to a projection, 01, of the lower end of the fork C, and is guided by an arm, e, of this fork. This lever S is of such length that it can be operated easily by theperson occupying the seatF.

Between the hub Q of the wheel A and the left-hand shank of the fork (J a disk or wheel, M, or a suitable arm is rigidly mounted on the shaft B, and to this disk or arm one or more pawls, N, are pivoted, which pawls rest on a ratchet-wheel, 0, made integral with a pinion, 1?, attached to the left-hand end of the hub Q, which combined pinion and ratchetwheel O]? are loosely mounted on the shaft B.

In the sliding block R on the left-hand arm,

S, there is a shaft, R, also journaled in the lower end of a lever, S, on the left-hand side of the fork, and on this shaft R are mounted a cog-wheel, T engaging with the pinions P on the hub Q, and apinion, T engaging with a cog-wheel, K, rigidly mounted-on the shaft. The arm S of the fork G is provided with a curved brace, U, which is rigidly attached to the top of the fork O. The arm S is so constructed that a wheehV, journaled in the front forked end of this arm S will not touch the ground, but will be a short distance above it.

The steering-lever W is pivoted to the upper end of the fork O, and is provided with a quadrant-plate, X, fitting in between two projections,Y, of the upper end of the curved reach D. The brake-shoe Z is pivoted to the under side of the brace U. The outer end of this brake-shoe Z is provided with an upwardlyprojecting block, Z, passing through an opening or slot in the curved brace U, and having a grooved pulley, Z provided in its upper end. cord, U passes over this pulley and is attached to each trcadle-bar G. The block Z is provided with a transverse aperture, adapted to receive a wedge-shaped projection, m, of a lever, n, pivoted to a lateral projection of the curved brace U. If the lever n is pushed from the seat, the wedge-shaped projection at will raise the block Z and the brake-shoe Z and prevent the brake from being pressed on the wheel, the cord U passing over the pulley Z in opposite directions alternately as the treadle-bars are alternately depressed.

To usethehrake,theleverais pulled back and the projection on is withdrawn from the aperture in the block Z. The brake-shoe can now be lowered, and by putting an equal stress on each treadle the entire weight of the body can be brought on the brake. The cord U will pass down behind the levers S S, and will not interfere with them.

A longitudinally-slotted segmental guidebar, D is fastened under the lower parts of the bars D D, which guideD projects a slight distance sidewise beyond each bar D. A V- shaped rod or frame, C ,or any other'like suitable frame, is pivoted or hooked to the lower ends of the shanks of the fork G. The other or outer end of the frame passes through the guide-slot in bar D, and is secured by a pin passingth rough two rollers, m, adapted to roll on the outer surface of the guide-bar D. This frame 0 draws the weight of the rear seat and wheels, thereby greatly relieving the reachbars D. The fork O is to be so arranged as to be inclined backward two or three inches, in order to avoid the danger of upsetting the tricycle.

The tricycle can be constructed with or without the rear seat and platform. It is evident that the above-described construction is also applicable to a bicycle as well as a tricycle.

The operation is as follows: The rider occupies seat F and propels the vehicle by depressing the treadle-bars Gr, thereby causing the pawls L to act on the ratchet-wheels J, whereby the shaft B is rotated in the direction of the arrow to. The wheel M is rotated in the same direction, and the pawl N, engaging with the ratchet-wheel O, rotates the driving-wheel A in the direction of the arrow at. If the resistance is very great, the rider can add to the driving-power by pulling upward on the rod I, and the person or persons occupying the seat 0 can assist by pulling on the rods H. A reciprocating movement of the treadle is preferable; but if the rods H and I are detached a rotary motion can be given to the treadle, each foot making an entire revolution for each revolution of the shaft. If great speed is desired, the left-hand lever S is pushed in the direction of the arrow 1), thereby engaging the pin ion T with the cog-wheel K and the cog-wheel T with the pinion P, the block it sliding up the arm S. The cog-wheel K will rotate the pinion P, which is much smaller, thereby cansin g the left-hand shaft, R, to be rotated very rapidly. The wheel T will also revolve very rapidly and cause a still more rapid revolution of the pinion P and the wheel Athat is, the wheel A will rotate much more rapidly than the shaft B, and the pawls N N will Slide over the teeth of the cog-wheel O, or they are previously raised. As soon as the rapid movement is to cease the pinion T and cog-wheel T are disengaged from the cog-wheels K and pinion P by pulling the left-hand lever S in the inverse direction of the arrow 1), causing the block R to slide down the arm S. If an incline is to be ascended, the wheel A is caused to rotate much slower than the shaft by engaging the cog-wheel and pinion of the right-hand sliding block R with the pinion K and cog-wheel P on the right-hand end of the shaft. If the vehicle is to run along on-a straight line, the steering-lever W is turned down, as shown in Fig. 1, the circular pr0ject ing plate X passing in between the projections Y of the curved reach D, thereby locking the reach D and the front brace, U, in one straight line. If the vehicle is to be steered to one side, the steering-lever W is raised and turned as may be necessary. If the brake is applied sud denly,the vehicle is apt to tip over toward the front. To prevent this I have provided the safety-wheel,which does not run on the ground, but is a few inches above it, and only comes in contact with the ground when the vehicle tips toward the front.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-=- 1. The combination of the fork 0, having arm S, the aboveground wheel V, journaled in the front forked end of said arm, a steering lever pivoted at the upper end of said fork and having a quadrantplate, X, and the reach D, having projections Y Y, as shown and de scribed.

2. The combination of the fork 0, having a curved slotted top brace, U, with a lateral pro= jection, the brake-shoe Z, pivoted to the under side of said brace, having transversely apertured block Z, and provided with grooved pul at. The combination, with the seat F, of the treadle-bars G, pawls L, ratchet-wheels J, shaft B,whee1 M, pawl N, ratchet-wheel O, and drivewheel, all relatively arranged as shown and described.

5. The combination of the rods H, quadrant F guide-loop H, and handle H whereby the power may be augmented by the action of a person in the seat 0 as described.

6. The combination of the rod I,having loop- I, treadle-bar G, and the arm 0 on fork 0, whereby the rider can add to the drivingpower, as described.

7. The combination of the lever S, pinion T cog-wheels K K pinion P, and block R, adapted to slide up the arm S, whereby the speed may be increased, as set forth.

'8. In a tricycle, the combination, with the shaft B, of the wheel A,loosely mounted thereon, the combined cog andspur wheel P 0, made integral with the hub Q, the combined spur and cog wheel J K, rigidly mounted on the shaft, the pawl N of the disk M, the treadlebars G, the pawl L, the pinion T, the cog-wheel T, the shaft It, the sliding blocks R, and the lever S, substantially as herein shown and described,'and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a tricycle, the combination, with the shaft and wheels, of treadle-bars and cogs and pinions arranged in two sets at opposite sides of the fork, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose of rotating the shaft and wheels faster or slower than the treadles, as may be desired.

10. In a bicycle or tricycle, the combination, with the treadle-bars G and the brake Z, of the cord U substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a tricycle or bicycle, the combination, with the brake Z, provided with the projection Z, of the cord U the pulley Z the treadlebars G G, and the lever n, provided with a wedge-shaped projection, m, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a tricycle, the combination, with the curved reach-bars D, of the slotted segmental guide-bar D and the frame 0 pivoted to the bottom of the fork C and passing through the slot of the guide-bar D substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SLOAN.

Witnesses:

R. J. GOUGH, A. J. CAMPBELL. 

